Cutting device for copying machines



Apr. 10, 1923.

'F. MAY

CUTTING DEVICE FOR COPYING MACHINES Filed Da e.

29, 1922' 5 sheets-sheet. 1

Apr. 10, T9231 1,451,445

F. MAY

CUTTING DEVICE FOR COPYING MACHINES Filed Dec. 29, 1922 5 sheets-sheet 2 IZy CUTTING DEVICE FOR COPYING MACHINES Filed Dec. 29, 1922 5 sheets-sheet 5 52 w g g s v Patented Apr. 10, 1923.

UNETED STATE FREDERIC MAY, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA...

CUTTING DEVICE FOR COPYING MACHINES.

Application filed December 29, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F nnnnnrc MAY, manufacturer, a subject of the Kingdom of Hungary, residing at Vienna, Austria, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Cutting Device for Copying Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a cutting device for copying machines by means of which copies of an original document, writing or the like, made on a long strip of paper, may be cut off at the desired length.

The known cutting devices consist essentially of two parts, one part being the actual cutting device and the other part the ar rangement for adjusting the sizes. Accord.- ing to the present invention these two parts are combined to form a unit, e. g. a single device, by means of the particular construction of the knives and. their mode of operation.

One mode of carrying out the present invention is shown by way of example on the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 illustrates the arrangement of the cutting device in elevation,

Fig. 2 the same in cross-section,

Fig. 3 is aperspective View of the rotary knife, and I v Fig. 4- shows its arrangement in a copying machine.

The cutting device essentially comprises a rotary knife 1 against which a straight counter knife 2 supported for swinging 35 movement to and from the rotary knife on levers 3, is pressed by means of springs. In the illustrated construction the rotary knife 1 is made in a most simple manner by twisting a piece of steel of suitable cross-section (in the present case a four-edged steel) in such a manner, that the longer edges form a helix or screw-line of a suitable pitch or gradient on a cylinder, whose diameter corresponds to the width of the piece of steel. These longer edges are beveled to constitute cutting edges and both sides of the knife thus formed are secured to disks 4, which are furnished with tale in bearings.

It is well known, that the effect of a cutting device is dependent on the angle included. by the two cutting edges of the coacting knives and further also on the speed of cutting. The described mode of manufacture of the rotary knife in combination with the modeof movement hereinafter dejournals in order to ro- Serial No. 609,775.

scribed render it possible to obtain the proper cutting angle by one end of the bar from which the rotary knife is made through only one revolution. Thus the beginning and ending of the cutting edge are disposed at 360 degrees with respect to one another, if

. the knife 1 is provided with one cutting edge only. If the knife is provided with two cutting edges the maximum twist of each cutting edge along the entire length of the knife is 180 degrees. With three cut-ting edges the twist is 120 degrees and so forth. On the other hand by a suitable choice of the rotary speed, the cutting speed corre sponding to the to the knife 1.

The knife is rotated by a toothed wheel 5 mounted on one of the journals, the said wheel being in mesh with and rotated by a toothed wheel 7. Owing to the fact that the diameter of the knife is comparatively small, only one size could be cut during an uninterrupted rotation, which in view of only two cutting edges would correspond to the half circumference of the cylinder of the knife, if from time to time the knife 2 is not lifted away from the knife 1 by a particular arrangement.

In the illustrated embodiment the arrangement is such, that the knife performs a half revolution only and after the completion of the same remains stationary until a correspondingly long piece of the strip of paper has passed through between the knives. For attaining this object the teeth of the wheel 5 are interrupted at two diametrically opposed places the gap being large enough to prevent" the teeth of the wheel 7 from being in mesh with the teeth of the wheel 5 in case a gap faces the toothed wheel 7 Thus when the teeth of both wheels are in mesh with one another, the toothed wheel 5 will be rotated by the toothed wheel 7 for so long, until the teeth of the wheel 7 enter into one of the gaps of the toothed wheel 5 and now the latter as well as the knife will come to a standstill, while the toothed wheel 7 will uniformly continue its rotation.

The following arrangement is made in order to rotate the toothed wheel 5 and the knife 1. at the proper moment.

An individual tooth 8 is provided at the middle of each gap of the toothed wheel 5 but at the side of the latter. At the side of the toothed wheel 7 and in the same plane as usedtwist may be applied wheel the tooth 8 there is provided a two-armed lever 9, which is rotatable round the boss of the toothed wheel 7 and longitudinally adjustable, the said lever being pulled against a projection 12 by a spring 11. This lever is furnished with a tooth 10 which when the lever 9 operates to produce rotation of the toothed wheel 7, is adapted to engagethe tooth 8 of the toothed wheel 5 and thereby places the latter in rotation. When the rotation of the toothed wheel 5 has sufficiently advanced and provided the tooth 1O oftlie lever 9 is in line with any of the teeth of the toothed wheel 7, the teeth remaining in the toothed wheel 5 will come into proper mesh with the teeth of the wheel 7. Thereafter the toothed wheel 5 is rotated until the teeth of the wheel 7 enter the next space of the teeth on the wheel 5, when this will come again to a standstill. For starting the rotation of the toothed wheel 5 it is necessary at every case, that the lever 9 is simultaneously rotated with the toothed wheel 7 and the tooth 10 is in engagement with the tooth 8 until the teeth of both wheels and 7 are in mesh, when the lever mustbe brought back to its initial position. If the lever 9 would participate on the whole revolution of the toothed wheel 7 the tooth 1O rests once only against the tooth 8 during one revolution of the toothed wheel 7. Bv the arrangement of two oppositely located teeth 10 on the toothed wheel 7, the toothed wheel 5 would be rotated twice, at four teeth uniformly disposed on the circumference of the toothed wheel 7 four times and so forth. Thus if gear ratio of the two toothed wheels 5 and 7 is chosen in such a manner, that the toothed wheel 7 will complete onlyone revolution when the longest size to be cut off from the strip of paper by the cutting device passes the knives, the largest size will be out if one tooth 10 is arranged on the toothed wheel 7, a half will be cut with two teeth and a quarter of the largest size with four teeth. This object may be attained also on arranging one'tooth 10 only on the toothed wheel ,7, but doubling or quadrupling the speed of rotation of the same. According to the invention the same object, but in a far simpler manner, is obtained by a particular construction of the lever 9 and the pins 13, which pass through the disc of the toothed wheel 7 and act in the following manner. The pins 13 are located on a disc 18 at diametrically opposed places. The disc 18 is furnished with a bolt 19, adapted to slidably fit an axial opening in the journal supporting the toothed wheel 7 whereby it may have longie tudinal movement. A compression spring 20, located between the disc 18 and the bearing urges the disc 18 away from the toothed 7. The pins 13 are of different length and, as already stated. pass through the disc of the toothed wheel. a

When the disc 18 is moved far enough from the toothed wheel 7 by the spring 20, none of the pins will project from that side of the toothed wheel where the lever 9 is located. When the disc 18 is brought nearer to the toothed wheel 7, at first the longer pin 13 will project beyond the side of the toothed wheel, and both pins will project out of the wheel 7 in case the disc is brought still nearer to the said wheel. The proper or correct adjustment of the disc 18 is accomplished by a stepped sliding member 21, which is adjusted by a suitable arrangement.

As the toothed Wheel rotates the projecting pins engage the lever 9 and rotate it, thus rotating the toothed wheel 5 in the desired manner. The following arrangement is made in order to prevent the lever 9 from being still further rotated by the contacting pin, after the said lever has started the rotation of the toothed wheel 5.

The lever 9 is offset at 14 and 15. the said offset parts being sufficiently high as to permit the passage of the longest pin. The offset part 14: is so small, that it will just allow the passage of one pin 13, while the offset part 15 is correspondingly wide. The offset parts are positioned in such a manner, that every pin 13 projecting beyond the side of the toothed wheel 7 has to bear on the lever 9 beside the offset part 14 and thus effect the carrying along of the lever, while the offset part 15 allows a free, e. g, undisturbed passage to every pin. Further the lever 9 is provided with an abutment 16, adapted to bear during the rotation of the lever against a particularly shaped cam face 17 on the frame of the machine. This face produces the effect that during the continuation of its rotation the lever 9 is gradually forced towards the centre of the toothed wheel 7 whereby the offset part 14: passes over the pin 13 resting against the lever and effecting the rotative movement of the lever. As the spring 11 is exertinga continuous pull on the lever 9 against the direction of rotation, the effect of the pin 13 on the lever 9 will be interrupted in that moment and the spring 11 will pull the lever against the abutment 12 into the initial position, while the pin 13 will pass under the offset part 1 1. Finally the pin 13 which will still rotate with the toothed wheel 7 passes under the second offset part 15 which it can freely pass owing to its corresponding wicltlnwhereafter it again will come to rest against the lever 9 beside the offset part 14:. If two pins 13 are projecting beyond the toothed wheel 7, the said pins will bear twice against the lever and be twice pulled back into the initial position during one revolution of the wheel, while on the projection of four pins the latter will bear four times against the lever and so forth. Thus during one revolution of the toothed wheel 7 and in accordance with the desired adjustment of the pins 13, the knife 1 will be rotated once, twice or four times and so forth, so that three sizes may be cut, each successive size being half the size of the preceding size.

Very frequently documents or the like are copied, whose measurements differ from those which can be cut by means of the pins 13 of the cutting device. In order to obviate any waste of paper by placing the cutting device in operation in such a case and thus to render possible the cutting-off a strip of any desired length the device according to the present invention is provided with the following arrangement.

A pawl 22 is movably secured to the end of the lever 9 which lies opposite the tooth 10, the said pawl being provided with a tooth 23, which is adapted to be placed into engagement with the teeth of the wheel 7. Further the pawl is provided withtwo projections 24 and 25. A spring 26, secured to the lever 9 and acting on the projection 25, has the tendency to rotate the pawl in such a manner, that its tooth 23 is moved out-of engagement with the teeth of the wheel 7 while in the initial position of the lever 9 the projection 24 comes to rest against the abutment l2 and thereby places the pawl 22 and its tooth 23 into such a position, that the teeth of the wheel may just pass the tooth 23 without engagement. If it is now desired to cut-ofi a strip of paper of any convenient length, at first the disc 18 is brought into a position farthest away from the toothed wheel 7, in order that none of the pins 13 may project out of the toothed wheel 7 and rotate the lever 9. Now the knob 28 of the pressure bar 27 is pressed, whereby the latter comes to rest against the projection of the pawl 22 and rotates the same until its tooth 23 comes into engagement with the teeth of the wheel 7. Thereby the pawl, as well as also the lever 9 are'carried along by the rotating toothed wheel 7. The rotation of the lever 9 causes, as before described, the toothed wheel 5 to start its rotation. In order that the tooth 23 of the pawl may positively remain in engagement with the teeth of the wheel 7 during any period of time which is necessary to place the toothed wheel 5 in rotation, a guide-slot 29 is provided at the side of the tooth 23, which is extending in such a manner, that a guide pin secured to the pawl and adapted to enter the said slot is held down for a suiiicient time. After the rotation of the toothed wheel 5 has been safely started the said guide pin is pressed away from the toothed wheel 7, thus obtaining a continuous engagement of the tooth 23 with the teeth of the wheel 7, as well as also the lifting clear at the proper moment. The previously mentioned spring 11, which acts on the lever 9, will pull the the toothed wheel 5 lever 9 against the abutment 12 after its rotation, whereby the pawl 22 is so far rocked by the pull of the spring 26 acting on the projection 25, that the'pin 3O slides over the outer face 2'9"- of the guide slot 29. Just before the contact of the lever 9 with the abutment 12, the projection 24 of the pawl knocks against the projection 13, so that after the contact ofthe lever 9 with the projection the pawl 22 with its tooth 23 is so far rotated against the toothed wheel 7, that only a small rotation will be required to place the tooth 23 into engagement with the teeth of the wheel 7.

In order to prevent a throwing over of and of the knife 1, a pawl 31 is provided, which is connected to the lever 9 by a connecting link 32. On the lever 9 starting its rotation, it will at first lift the pawl clear, so that the toothed wheel 5 is free. After the rotation has been completed the pawl 31 enters into the gap of the toothed wheel 5 and secures the same against any undesirable rotation, whereby also the knife 1 is secured in the position of rest as illustrated. In this position of rest of the knife, the strip of paper passes between the two knives l and 2, and after the cutting has been performed the knife 2 should be lifted away from the knife 1 to such an extent, that the paper cannot stick. After the cutting the knife 2 is lifted off and thereafter the same is again placed onto the knife 1 before the starting of a fresh cutting, by securing an eccentric 33 to the shaft of the toothed wheel 5, the said eccentric regulating the movement of the knife 2 either directly or by means of an intermediate lever 34.

In copying machines it is of great advantage to make the cutting device dependent on the inserting device andthe delivery device for the copies in such a manner, that the operation of the former will effect in the exact order and manner thepositive operation of the two other devices. Further it is of advantage if the period (time) and speed of the insertion of the original document, the speed of the strip of paper, the cutting speed of the cutting device the speed of operation of the delivery appliance always are remaining constant, it being immaterial whether the largest or smallest sizes are worked-off. The attention to the copying machine will be considerably simplified if the adjustment to the various sizes may be accomplished by one grip of the hand only.

All the mentioned circumstances have been taken into consideration and embodied in the device according to thepresent invention. Owing to the fact that the knifetoothed wheel "s driven by the toothed wheel 7 rotating with a uniform speed, the cutting speed of the knife will be constant at all events. The adiustment of the disc 18 and the fact that, according to the size to be cut, either no pin 13 or two to tour pins are projecting beyond the toothed wheel 7, may be used in a most simple manner to operate the inserting device in such a manner, that the time for inserting the original document always remains the same whether the largest or smallest size is worked-oft. In case the copies are cut-oil" by hand which will be only in case sizes are worked-oft which are outside the see for which the machine constructed, the inserting; device preferably will be continuously in the working position. The delivery device of any desired construction is operated by an cccentcc or the like which also is arranged. on the shaft of the toothed wheel '5, the operation being such that every rotation of the knife will ell'ect the operation of the delivery device. As shown by way of example the adjustment ofthe sizes by a single grip of the hand may be accomplished by the following arrangement The sliding member 21 For adjusting the disc 18 is brought into the required position by a rack 36 operated by a rotary toothed wheel 37. The latter is conne'ted to a lever 38. In the, illustrated embodiment it has been presumed that the cutting device is adapted to cut two adjustable sizes. 23 and 46 centimetres, and further any convenient size by hand. Therefore three positions of the lever 38 are provided, which are turnished w th corresponding mar (S. i A certain adiustment of the sliding member corresponds to every one of these positions and further the provision is made that the lever 38 in the positions 23 and 46 centimetres will prevent the bar 27 from being brought nearer to the projection 25 ot the pawl 22. but the operation of the pawl by means of pressing down the knob 28 is rendered possible it the lever 38 is placed in the position designated by H.

llereto'tore 'ariousdevices have been used in order to obtain. a straight and rectangular cuttingpotl of the copies from the strip of paper. According to the present invent on this object is attained by locating the axis ot the small rotary knife 1 not horizontally and vertically to the strip of paper, but inclined in accordance with the proportion between the speeds of the paper and cutting operation. whereby the d fference in the inclination between the axis of the shaft of the toothed wheel 5 and the inclined axis of the kniteis compensated by level-wheels or. as has been indicated, by a movable coupling. As also the counter-knife 2 is correspondingly inclined it is possible to attain without diliiculty that position of the knife in which. even in consequence of the continuous feed of the paper during the cutting operation and the small collection of paper aris nc; thereby, an exactly rectangular and straight cutting is obtained.

is described the cutting may be carried out at any time by pressing th knob 28. The smallest size which can be cut is dependent on the .vidth of the knife and amounts to the half circumference of the circle traced by apoint on the kn fe edge during its rotatiom whose diameter corresponds to the width of the knife. its the return of the lever 9 to its initial position is always accomplished in a shorter time than the knife requires for its hall. rovolution. the size may be increased to any desired length it the tooth .2?) of the pawl 22 always enters that tooth ot the wheel '7 which corresponds to the number oi? teeth which have been in mesh during, the halt revolution of the toothed wheel Every tooth more by which the pawl 22 is brought into engagement will increase the length for such an amount which will be obtained it he paper. wound-oft during: one revolution ol the toothed wheel '4', is governed by the number oi teeth of that wheel. Therefore it is possible to increase according; to the nun'iber ot teeth (hosen, the width of the copies cut-oil by steps ot a half or whole centimetre. it by means ot suitable arraiip ement provision s made that the pressure on the knob 29 will take place at the proper moment.

5 inch an arrangement is illustrated diaeiainmatically in Fig. t of the drawings. By pressure on a key 39 marked with a convenient sign. an abutment is pressed down and the pressure exerted on the bar 27 is released. in endless driving means at, band, belt. chain or the like is driven at a constant speed. A slidingmember 42. continuously pulled by a spring; 43 towards an aluitment 44-, is furnished with a teed member ()n pulling the latter towards the abutment 44. the same will enter into the driving" means ll and is taken alone by the latter until it'contacts with the abutment pressed downwardly by a key 39. Thereby the feed member will be released from eugagement w'th the driving; means and simultaneously pressed against av bar 46 by which the pressure bar 27 is forced against the abutment 25 of the pawl 22. Immediately after the disengagement from the driving means, the sliding member 42 with the feed member are pulled towards the abutment 4:4: by the spring 43. and thereafter the teed means is again taken along by the driving 7 means.

Inn

to control and considerably simplified, and

the effect and operation of the whole arrangement is absolutely reliable.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In a machine of the class described, a rotary knife, a second knife cooperating therewith, an interrupted gear carried by the rotary knife, a constantly rotary gear positioned for engagement with the interrupted gear, vmeans operable by the continuously rotating gear for starting and stopping the interrupted gear at predetermined intervals, and other means for regulating the length of said intervals.

2. In a machine of the class described comprising a rotary spiral knife, an interrupted gear carried by said knife, said gear being interrupted to provide a gap in the teeth thereof, a single tooth carried by the interrupted gear and projecting along side of said gap in offset relation thereto, a driving gear adapted to mesh with the teethof the interrupted gear, a tooth member slidably and rotatably mounted along side of the driving gear and engageable with the single tooth of the interrupted gear, means projectable through the driving gear for actuating the tooth member, and other means controlling the projection of the last men tioned means.

3. In a machine of the class described comprising a rotary spiral knife, an interrupted gear carried by said knife, said gear being interrupted to provide a gap in the teeth thereof, a single tooth carried by the interrupted gear and projecting along side of said gap in offset relation thereto, a driving gear adapted to mesh with the teeth of the interrupted gear, a tooth member slidably and rotatably mounted along side of the driving gear and engageable with the single tooth of the interrupted gear, means projectable through the driving gear for actuating the tooth member, other means con trolling the projection of the last mentioned means, and manually controlled means for locking the tooth member to the driving ear.

g 4. In a machine of the class described, a rotary spiral knife, a spur gear carried by said knife and having its teeth interrupted by a gap, a driving gear having teeth adapted to pass through the gap upon the latter being opposed to the driving gear, and to engage the teeth on the first mentioned gear at predetermined intervals, a single tooth projecting from the first mentioned gear along side of said gap in offset relation thereto, a lever slidably and rotatably mounted on the driving gear, pins slidable laterally through said driving gear to selectively engage the lever, said lever having off'set portions permitting free passage of said pins upon the lever being slid to one position, means automatically controlling the sliding of said lever, and manually operable means to lock said lever in engagement with the driving gear.

5. In a machine of the class described, a rotary spiral knife, a spur gear carried by said knife and having its teeth interrupted by a gap, a driving gear having teeth adapted to passthrough the gap upon the latter being opposed to the driving gear, and to engage the teeth on the first mentioned gear at predetermined intervals, a single tooth projecting from the first mentioned gear along side of said gap in offset relation thereto, a lever slidably and rotatably mounted on the driving gear, pins slidable laterally through said driving gear to selectively engage the lever, said lever having ofi'set portions permitting free passage of said pins upon the lever being slid to one position, adisk carrying said pins and movableto proj ect the same through the driving gear, manual means to adjust the position of said disk and thereby control the projection of said pins, said pins varying in length whereby one or more pins may be projected through the driving gear, said lever having offset portions, one of which permits free passage of said pins at all times and the other of which permits free passage only when the lever is slid to a predetermined position, and means for sliding said lever to said predetermined position. a

6. In a machine of the class described, a rotary spiral knife, a spur gear carried by said knife and having its teeth interrupted by a gap, a driving gear having teeth adapted to pass through the gap upon the latter being opposed to the driving gear, and to engage the teeth on the first mentioned gear at predetermined intervals, a single tooth projecting from the first mentioned gear along side of said gap in offset relation thereto, a lever slidably and rotatably mounted on the driving gear, pins slidable laterally through said driving gear to selectively engage the lever, said lever having offset portions permitting free passage of said pins upon the lever being slid to one position, a disk carrying said pins and movable to project the same through the driving gear, manual means to adjust the position of said disk and thereby control the projection of said pins, said pins varying in length whereby one or more pins may be projected through the driving gear, said lever having ofl set portions, one of which permits free passage of said pins at all times and the other of which permits free passage only when the. lever is slid to a predetermined position, means for sliding said lever to said 7. In a machine of the class described, a rotary splral knife, a spur gear carried by said knife and havin its teeth interru ted 2) gear having teeth adaptthe gap upon the latter and to by a gap, a driving ed to pass through being opposed to the driving gear,

engage the teeth on the first mentioned gear at predetermined intervals, single tooth projecting from the first mentioned gear along side ot said gap in ottset relation thereto, a lever slidably and rotatably mounted on the driving gear, pins slidable laterally through said driving gear to selectively engage the lever. said lever having oitset portions permitting- :tree passage of said pins upon the lever being slid to one position, a disk carrying said pins and movable to project the same through the driving gear, manual means to adjust the position of said disk and thereby control the projection of said pins said pins varying in length whereby one or more pins may be projected through the driving gear, said lever having otlset'portions, one of which. permits 'lree passage of said pins at all times and the other of which permits tree passage only when the lever is slid to a predetermined position, means tor sliding said lever to said predetermined position, a pawl pivoted on said lever, a tooth carried by one end of the pawl for engaging the teeth of the driving gear and locking the lever thereto, a cam arranged to hold said pawl in engagement with said driving gear through a certain period of rotation of the driving gear, said cam being further arranged to free the pawl upon completion of said movement of the driving gear, and manual means ongageable with said pawl "for placing the same in engagement with the driving gear.

8. In a machine of the class described, a rotary spiral knife, a spur gearcarried by said knife and having its teeth interrupted by a gap, a driving gear having teeth adapted to pass through the gap upon the latter being opposed to the driving gear, and to engage the teeth on the first mentioned gear at predetermined intervals, a single tooth projecting from the first mentioned gear along side of said gap in oilset relation thereto, a lever slidably and rotatably mounted on the driving gear, pins slidable laterally through said driving gear to selectively engage the lever, said lever having otiset portions permitting free passage of said pinsupon the lever being slid to one position, a disk carrying said pins and movable to project the same through the driving gear, manual means to adjust the position of said disk and thereby control the projection of said pins, said pins varying in length whereby one or more pins may be projected through the driving gear, said lever having oilset portions, one of which permits free passage of said pins at all times and the other of which permits -free passage only when the lever is slid to a predetermined position, means for sliding said lever to said predetermined position, a pawl pivoted on said lever, a tooth carried by one end of the pawl for engaging the teeth of the driving gear and locking the lever thereto, a cam arranged to hold said pawl in engagement with said driving gear through a certain period of rotation of the driving gear, said cam being" further arranged to tree the pawl upon completion of said movement of the driving gear, manual means engageable with said pawl tor placing the same in engagement with the driving gear, and paper feeding means controlled bv the movement of said lever.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FBEDERIG MAY.

\Vitnesses CARL COUDENLEN, RUDoLr THEUMEN. 

